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Google Scholar

Learn how to search Google Scholar.

About Google Scholar

Google Scholar searches multiple sources for scholarly literature (i.e. journal articles & books).  

Pros Cons
  • Familiar Google interface - easy to search
  • Very broad coverage
  • Integrated citation information and author profiles
  • Results can be linked to the library collection (Get it @ Mac)
  • Limited search capabilities and very large result sets make precision searching impossible
  • No subject headings
  • Limited sorting and filtering options
  • Algorithm-based (takes the control out of the searcher's hands)
  • Not clear how "scholarly" is defined (leads to some questionable results)
  • Lacks the focus and quality control present in other scholarly databases

Library Links in Google Scholar

Linking Google Scholar to the McMaster libraries collection will give you full text access to results available through McMaster libraries. A screen capture of the Google Scholar menu options.

  1. Visit https://scholar.google.ca/
  2. Click on the Table of Contents hamburger menu located in the top left corner of the page.
  3. Select Settings from the menu.
  4. Select Library Links from the menu down the left side of the page.
  5. Enter McMaster University into the search box.
  6. Click the checkbox beside McMaster University Library - get it @ Mac and click save.

The Get it @ Mac link should now appear beside results in Google Scholar.  Follow the Get it @ Mac link to see if McMaster has full-text access

Google Scholar Profiles

Google Scholar Profiles is a researcher profile tool integrated into Google Scholar.  When you create an account, Google will automatically search for publications it believes to be yours and ask you to verify these citations as your own.  You can also add citations manually for any publications that Google may have missed. 

As you continue to publish, your Google Scholar Profile will update automatically, always asking you to verify the citations it finds before adding them to your profile.

Please Note: Setting up a Google Scholar Profile requires an existing Google Account.

Key Features

  • Automatic profile updates
  • Basic citation metrics (citation count, h-index, i10 index)
  • Does not assign Unique Identifier, but can be easily linked to other identifiers (i.e. ORCID; ResearcherID)